What do these kH and gH values mean?

[new2tanks]

Hi all,

As you know i have been working on putting my tank together and been researching various fish options for my 10g for a while now.
anyways i finally got my test kits and just started testing my reular tap water.

i Got:
pH = 7.2
kH= 6dkH
gH = 9dkH

will i need to soften the water or should i just leave things as they are? anything else that i should do to make the water better for my community of cardinals and maybe some corys? oh and it will be a planted tank.

Thanks.

 

[daveedka]

With Cardinals and Cories, I would change nothing. The water is soft to medium depending on who is judging it. IF you get into lants you may need to add some Mg and or Ca, but that will depend largely on light levels, and other dosing. 6 dKH will give you an extremely stable system but I would expect your Ph to rise a bit with Kh at that level.
Dave

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Your water is perfect.

 

[new2tanks]

Thankyou both!
Slappy i would hug you but im frightened of that "thing" in your avatar.

Dave, yes it will be planted. and i will have around 26W (CF) over the tank.

 

[daveedka]

2.6 watts on a 10 g with those hardness numbers (I would guess) you'll have enough caclium for your plants, you may need to dose some Mg but then again you might be fine. The plants will let you know when the time comes.
Dave